Ramp for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A ramp which includes a pedestal formed of a base member, meshing cross braces, the braces positionable upon the base member, a pan positionable on the top of the braces, the combination held together by a screw forcing the base and pan against the top and bottom of the braces, the top of the pan having a well between both ends thereof with a preferably U shaped lip at one end and a raised stop at the other end, and an incline preferably having a flange on one end for mating with the U shaped lip to maintain the incline elevated at one end, the other end of the incline preferably having a safety tab which is of a length so that a wheel will first ride on the safety tab to anchor the ramp on the floor or ground before engaging the steeply inclined portion of the incline when travelling up to reach the pedestal.

United States Patent [191 West [ 1 Mar. 11, 1975 1 1 RAMP FOR VEHICLES [75] Inventor: Roland J. West, Andover, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Vaughn Corporation, Salisbury,

Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 341,765

GROUND PLANE B Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-Robert 0. Watson Attorney, Agent, or FirmDonald Brown; Dike, Bronstein, Roberts, Cushman & Pfund [57] ABSTRACT A ramp which includes a pedestal formed of a base member, meshing cross braces, the braces positionable upon the base member, a pan positionable on the top of the braces, the combination held together by a screw forcing the base and pan against the top and bottom of the braces, the top of the pan having a well between both ends thereof with a preferably U shaped lip at one end and a raised stop at the other end, and an incline preferably having a flange on one end for mating with the U shaped lip to maintain the incline elevated at one end, the other end of the incline preferably having a safety tab which is of a length so that a wheel will first ride on the safety tab to anchor the ramp on the floor or ground before engaging the steeply inclined portion of the incline when travelling up to reach the pedestal.

9 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU MRI 1 5 SHEET 1 UF 3 PATENTEU MARI 1 I975 SHEET 3 BF 3 GROUND PLANE F l G. 8

FIG9

FIG?

RAMP FOR VEHICLES BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is directed to a new and improved portable ramp particularly suited for supporting vehicles such as automobiles and the like.

For many years various types of vehicular ramps have been in use. These ramps are primarily intended to lift the front or rear wheels of a car or truck from about inches to 3 feet off the ground so that a mechanic may crawl under the car or truck and affect repairs.

Over the years there has developed the demand for new and improved ramp constructions particularly portable types that would be simple. to set up and break down, would be reasonably inexpensive to manufacture, include few parts and also provide certain safety advantages in use.

In view of the foregoing this invention provides a new and improved ramp construction to meet the requirements outlined above.

More particularly, the ramp of the present invention may easily be disassembled into its component parts for easy storage, shipping, etc., and yet, effectively provides support for autos and the like. The ramp of this invention also preferably includes a removable incline to permit easy access to the underside of the automobile.

Another preferred feature of the present invention is a safety tab forming an extension of the incline which serves to prevent the ramp from moving forward as a vehicle using same attempts to climb the incline.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top view of a portion of the ramp with parts cutaway and parts in section;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ramp with a tire shown positioned on top of the ramp;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the parts of FIG. 2 separated from each other;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the ramp looking from the left of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top view of one of the braces of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the brace shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the other brace of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of the ramp of the invention shown with a wheel first climbing onto the beginning of the ramp and then with the wheel seated on top of the ramp; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the incline of the ramp according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference should now be had to FIGS. 1-9 for a description of the preferred embodiment according to the invention.

At there is shown the ramp of the invention which includes a pedestal 21 and an incline member 22. The pedestal 21 as may be seen in the figures includes a plurality of members which are easily assembled or disassembled and are held together by a single nut and bolt.

The pedestal 21 comprises a base member or pan 23 having a side wall as retainer or guide means 23a extending above and about the top 23b thereof. The bottom 230 of the base member 23 as may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 rests on the ground plane. The bottom 230 of the base member 23 is arranged with a plurality of teeth-like protrusions 23d below the bottom surface at each end for the purpose of providing greater friction between the base 23 and the ground. The protrusions may be punched out of the member 23v or may be joined thereto by welding, etc.

Resting on the top 23b of the base member 23 is a nut member 24 coupled thereto, as for example, by welding. The purpose of the nut member is apparent from the drawings. At 25 and 26 there are brace members which interlock or mesh with and cross over each other preferably forming an X configuration as shown.

The brace members 25 and 26 include mating or interlocking cutouts 25a and 26a respectively so that one brace member may cross over the other brace member. In this manner the top and bottom edges of the braces lie in the same plane.

Each of the brace members also include flange portions 25b and 26b respectively which are positionable at the corners of the pan 23 against guide means 23a so as to fix the location of the braces when positioned on the top 23b of the pan 23 (see FIG. 1). The brace members include cutouts 25c and 260 respectively for supporting a top member or pan 27 therein as particularly shown in FIGS. 1-3. The braces are also shaped at 25d and 26d respectively to support the bottom of pan 27 as shown in these figures.

The top member or pan 27 is provided with a side wall or edge 27 extending downwardly which fits or seats in the brace cutouts 25c and 260 respectively and thereby fixes the position of the pan with respect to the braces. The pan is also provided with a well 27b for supporting a wheel 30 as shown and a raised stop 270 at the front thereof for stopping or restraining the forward movement of the wheel 30.

The underside of the pan portion forming the well 27b as may be shown is supported by the brace top edges 25d and 26d respectively.

At the rear of the pedestal there is provided an incline member support means such as a support member 27d (i.e., U shaped) forming a part of the pan 27.

The pan 27 is also preferably provided with a tapered hole 27e through which a threaded member such as a bolt or flat head screw 28 may be positioned and threaded into the nut 24 to securely hold the assembly together. As may be seen in the figures only a single bolt or screw is utilized to urge the top member and the base member against the braces 25 and 26.

Returning again to the aforementioned incline member 22, there is provided a flange or lip portion 22a which fits into the U shaped support member 27d (see FIG. 2).

The incline member 22 is also provided with guide edges 22 along the sides thereof as well as treads formed on the top surface 230 of the incline to aid the climb of a vehicle wheel moving thereon. The presence of treads is used to increase the friction of the incline member surface.

At 22d (see FIGS. 2, 8 and 9), the incline member is provided with a safety tab portion which is at an angle with respect to the top surface portion 22c so that it will also lie in the ground plane (see FIG. 8) as the bottom 230 of the base member 23. The tab is preferably 1 to 30 inches in length most preferably 1 to inches in length and may vary depending on the wheel and tire size.

The angle 6 of the tab with respect to the top surface portion 22c is preferably less than or equal to 170 and greater than or equal to 120 and is most preferably between 170 to 160 and may naturally vary depending on the length of the incline member and the desired height of the pedestal.

The purpose of the tab is to insure that the wheel and tire 30 engages the tab at point A and is supported by the tab 22d prior to the wheel and tire reaching point B and tending to urge'the ramp forward. In this manner the ramp incline will receive the full weight of the vehicle and thus remain in place as the wheel and tire begin to climb the inclined portion of the incline member.

The ramp of this invention may be constructed using heavy gauge steel as conventionally used in other present day ramp constructions.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A portable vehicle ramp which includes a pedestal comprising a base member, at least two brace members having bottoms positionable on the base member and which interlock with and cross over each other, a top member supportable on the top of the brace members, means for holding the members together, an incline member positionable on said pedestal for coupling thereto to permit one wheel of a vehicle to move to a position so that it is supported on the top member, and in which the brace members each have cutouts in the central portion thereof so that the brace members cross over each other while the bottoms thereof lie in the same plane.

2. The ramp of claim 1 in which the base member has raised side wall means extending thereabout to maintain the brace members positioned thereon within the confines of the base member.

3. The ramp of claim 1 in which the top member has side wall means extending therefrom, in which the brace members are provided with top member supporting cutouts and in which the side wall means of the top member seat in the cutouts when supported by the brace members.

4. The ramp of claim 1 in which the top member is provided with a well and in which the top member is also provided with a stop member at the front of the well.

5. The ramp of claim 1 in which the base member is provided with a nut fastened thereto, in which the top member defines a hole for the passage of a screw therethrough, and in which a screw extends through the hole in the top member alongside the brace members and is threaded into the nut to hold the pedestal together as an assembled unit.

6. The ramp of claim 1 in which the top member is provided with support means at one end thereof for supporting the incline member.

7. The ramp of claim 6 in which the support means comprises a U shaped member and in which the incline member includes a lip which fits within the U shaped member.

8. The ramp of claim 1 in which the inclined member includes a tab portion at one end which is at an angle with respect to the remainder of the incline member so that it will lie in the same plane as the bottom of the base member when the opposite end of the incline member is supported by the pedestal.

9. The ramp of claim 8 in which the top member is provided with support means for supporting the opposite end of the incline member. 

1. A portable vehicle ramp which includes a pedestal comprising a base member, at least two brace members having bottoms positionable on the base member and which interlock with and cross over each other, a top member supportable on the top of the brace members, means for holding the members together, an incline member positionable on said pedestal for coupling thereto to permit one wheel of a vehicle to move to a position so that it is supported on the top member, and in which the brace members each have cutouts in the central portion thereof so that the brace members cross over each other while the bottoms thereof lie in the same plane.
 1. A portable vehicle ramp which includes a pedestal comprising a base member, at least two brace members having bottoms positionable on the base member and which interlock with and cross over each other, a top member supportable on the top of the brace members, means for holding the members together, an incline member positionable on said pedestal for coupling thereto to permit one wheel of a vehicle to move to a position so that it is supported on the top member, and in which the brace members each have cutouts in the central portion thereof so that the brace members cross over each other while the bottoms thereof lie in the same plane.
 2. The ramp of claim 1 in which the base member has raised side wall means extending thereabout to maintain the brace members positioned thereon within the confines of the base member.
 3. The ramp of claim 1 in which the top member has side wall means extending therefrom, in which the brace members are provided with top member supporting cutouts and in which the side wall means of the top member seat in the cutouts when supported by the brace members.
 4. The ramp of claim 1 in which the top member is provided with a well and in which the top member is also provided with a stop member at the front of the well.
 5. The ramp of claim 1 in which the base member is provided with a nut fastened thereto, in which the top member defines a hole for the passage of a screw therethrough, and in which a screw extends through the hole in the top member alongside the brace members and is threaded into the nut to hold the pedestal together as an assembled unit.
 6. The ramp of claim 1 in which the top member is provided with support means at one end thereof for supporting the incline member.
 7. The ramp of claim 6 in which the support means comprises a U shaped member and in which the incline member includes a lip which fits within the U shaped member.
 8. The ramp of claim 1 in which the inclined member includes a tab portion at one end which is at an angle with respect to the remainder of the incline member so that it will lie in the same plane as the bottom of the base member when the opposite end of the incline member is supported by the pedestal. 